Performance anxiety, mistakes and low confidence are some of the top challenges for girls who play volleyball–challenges that help them learn important lessons in life, said Leah Jantzen, a former Ironman and marathon runner who is now a mental health and performance coach at Ward Melville High School, Long Island. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do Your Sports Kids Have Fun When They Compete? Is sport enjoyable for them, or does it cause added stress in their lives? You would think athletes have a deep passion and love for competing, but that’s not always the case. Many athletes admit that competing is not fun. High … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Karate is all about the mental game, says Master Rande Lawrence, head instructor at Lawrence World Class Karate in Fayetteville, N.Y. He coaches Matthew Killian, a blind 23-year-old with autism spectrum disorder to use his strong mental game in karate. Killian won two gold medals at his first karate competition, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young Athletes Should Park Their Egos & Embrace Teamwork Syd Abernathy, a two-time All-American former Navy lacrosse player who was recently inducted into the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, says young athletes should be “serving leaders” who check their ego at the door, embrace open mindsets … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Seeing The Game To The End More than physical factors, mental factors affect the outcome of close games. Back-and-forth games are often a game of attrition or who can wear down their opponent. Some athletes feel more comfortable during close competitions than other athletes. For example, some basketball players are … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Elite and Travel Teams Can Hurt Kids’ Confidence That’s the view of Hal Phillips, a former sports parent and youth soccer coach, plus author of Generation Zero: Founding Fathers, Hidden Histories and the Making of Soccer in America. He spoke with us recently during an interview for our Ultimate Sports … Read Sport Psychology Tip